About UC Irvine’s Legacy of Sustainability

UC Irvine’s legacy of sustainability began when shovel first hit dirt at the dedication of the campus by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. The interdisciplinary applied focus of UC Irvine’s founding academic units continues to animate the campus. Today, UCI continues to go beyond the classroom to put research to work to improve lives, the community, and the world.

UC Irvine’s Sustainability Initiative 2013-2016

UC Irvine is committed to preparing the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and entrepreneurs to help the world meet its profound environmental and social justice challenges. In 2013, the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor created the Sustainability Initiative to provide a platform for interdisciplinary, community-engaged sustainability education and research. This platform enabled UC Irvine to elevate established and emerging collaborations, maximize public impact, and augment the campus role in creating integrative solutions and resiliency in the critical resource, environment, climate, justice and health challenges we face.

UC Irvine’s Office of Sustainability

Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword at UC Irvine – it’s a commitment, a culture and a collective challenge, exemplified by the campus itself. UC Irvine is regularly recognized as is a leader in green construction to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, winning numerous national awards including being named Sierra magazine’s “Coolest School” in 2014 and 2015.

University of California’s comprehensive Sustainable Practices Policy, establishes goals in nine areas of sustainable practices: green building design, clean energy, climate protection, sustainable transportation, sustainable building operations for campuses, recycling and waste management, environmentally preferable purchasing, sustainable food services, and sustainable water systems. The policy was originally issued on July 1, 2004, and was most recently revised on June 2, 2017.

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UC Irvine’s legacy of sustainability began when shovel first hit dirt at the dedication of the campus by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Today, UCI continues to go beyond the classroom to put research to work to improve lives, the community, and the world.